25-06 bullet compromise

[Outcast]

Hey guys, I'm new to this web but have been reading the forum for about 3months. Hopefully you can help me out with this one.
I've picked up a Sako 85 chambered in 25-06. I reload and have played with a bunch of bullets on the range consisting of 100gr ballistic tips, 110 gr accubonds, 117 gr SST's and I can't find a load that it doesn't like. So accuracy is not an issue. Bullet weight is. I own a number of larger calibers and have not taken any big game with anything smaller than a .270 Winny. Will a 100gr bullet get the job done on deer sized game, even at extended range. I like the trajectory of the 100's as this gun will double as a yote gun sometimes. Or should I just stick with 115's to 120's as the end all be all of this caliber?
Thanks for any info you can throw at me on this.

I own several .25s and personally I'd go with a slightly heavier bullet...something in that 115-120 range for a number of reasons. While unquestionably the 100 will get the job done, the heavier bullets will experience less wind drift and at some point in the trajectory curve will actually outperform the lighter bullets and quite truthfully, I doubt at any range it's enough to make a difference on where you hold. Maybe I'm a bit old school too but I do feel more comfortable slamming a heavier bullet out of .25 into deer-sized game.

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[Ron AKA]

While it is possible that this cartridge may get the job done, the question would be why, if you own larger caliber guns? A 270, as you suggest you own would be a much better choice.

Ron

I have taken about twenty deer sized animals with the 257wby,as well as an elk.My hunting partner has taken ten or so deer sized animals plus a moose with his 25-06.In all cases 100 grain bullets were used,but in the case of the elk and moose,they were controlled expansion bullets.I would use the 110gr accubond,or the 100gr tsx myself.

[Outcast]

Agreeing with you 100% as I have always been a heavy for caliber bullet kind of guy, except for in my .338Win mag where I shoot 210 partitions. This is a new "market" for me though as I am a diehard elk hunter trying to put together a good Prairie gun for my quest of a true trophy Mulie. Who am I kidding I just wanted another gun. What bullets are you using?

Trophy Bonded Bearclaws!

[Outcast]

Never used Bear claws. Not to fond of there BC. Do they expand reliably at lower velocities encountered at the longer ranges that can be encountered in those Prairie zones?

Originally Posted by Outcast

Never used Bear claws. Not to fond of there BC. Do they expand reliably at lower velocities encountered at the longer ranges that can be encountered in those Prairie zones?

I am a total fan of these bullets and use them in virtually everthing I shoot and performance has been optimal through a wide variety of velocities. I've recovered many and weight retention and expansion was great.

.

[Outcast]

Originally Posted by Ron AKA

While it is possible that this cartridge may get the job done, the question would be why, if you own larger caliber guns? A 270, as you suggest you own would be a much better choice.

Ron

The fact that I do own a 270 winny is not the question. I also own some other great guns with power over and above what the 25-06 has. Love them all but I just want to play with something new and have heard so many great things about this caliber. Why do we buy guns? Not because our wives have given us the O.K.

[Outcast]

Originally Posted by lurch

Another one you may want to try (I'm hoping to try some this summer) are the Swift Sciroccos.

I have a friend that has shot them in his .243 and loves them.

Sleek design and bonded.

Not a big fan of the scirrocos. Had major issues with 210's in my .338 as well as 150's in my 7WSM as far as copper fouling was concerned. Switched to 210 partiitions in my 338 and 160 Accubonds in the7 problem solved. What a pain I am hey! Thanks for all the input though.

[roger]

good advice sheephunter, as always
ive done well with a quarterbore and 100 grain barnes x bullet,,, to get fox, endless yotes, wolves, antelope, buncha deer, elk and a moose with devastating results on all and would have no concerns of using it for anything legal in ab. (im in a 257 wby goin veerrry fast)
i have no proof of this...just me old brain working dbl time, but
i somehow get a feeling that if you need more weight than 100 gr in a 2506,,then maybe you should move up a notch in caliber (a plain ol' vanilla 270 with 130ish's??or neopolitan 3006 with 150's)
i could compare it to putting a 2 5/16" trailer hitch on a corvette, sure it would manage..your corvette (25-06) speed is what makes it what it is

keep the round lite and fast,
let the shock factor work for you
let the flat traj put a bullet in the 'gong'

Ya, truthfully when you run the numbers, the lighter bullet is actually delivering comparable foot pounds of energy from about 200-500 yards. Guess I'm just old fashioned and I'm going to resist bringing up the word sectional density as I'm still not sure how much I buy into what is for all purposes an outdated theory. Both will kill them dead without a doubt but I'm sticking to my TBBCs...lol

.

[Outcast]

Originally Posted by lurch

No problem, I appreciate the input back. Maybe I'll save myself a few $ and stick with my Noslers!

Good luck on your search!

Just aheads up on the cost savings. The partitions are actually more money. The Sciroccos come in a 100 count box for $60. You would definately save on the solvent you end up using on the bore of your rifle though.

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[Outcast]

Originally Posted by lurch

I'm actually running ballistic tips through it. I used to shoot the old Nosler Solid Base bullets, but I ran out of those a few years ago.

I hunt where there is a lot of open space and farm houses to be aware of, and the idea of the bullet breaking apart rather than skipping through someones home is an important one to me. Probably mostly in my head.

I have had decent luck with them - all in the ribs. The only failure I have had was one completely disintegrated on a shoulder bone & we actually shot that same deer a week later chasing a doe. I have had a couple blow up on the spine too, but they did put the deer down.

I will be checking out the 110 Accubonds too.

i've got a going with 110 accubonds over Retumbo powder that is clocking 3165fps avg. out of my rifle on my Chrony roughly 10ft from the muzzle. It consistantly groups at .75 out of the Sako. The 100 gr ballistic tips with Rl-19 are faster at 3305 and half the price of the accubonds and more accurate but I don't know if I trust them when it comes to our large Alberta deer. they do down yotes like aplomb though.

[Mulestalker]

I just finished fine tuning my 25-06 with 110 Accubonds,finally got the velocity and accuracy I wanted,I will be testing them in the a.m on my furry little friends.As far as performance on Deer,my son took his first Deer with the Accubonds,200yrds little high on the shoulder,no exit but terminal performance, was only shooting 2710fps at the time.

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Originally Posted by lurch

I'm running the 100 g BT's at just under 3300 with IMR 4350 in my Ruger.They shoot exceedingly well too.

As I said, they work fine when you put them in the ribs. I think there are better options though. I wish they made that accubond in a 100 grain.

While I must admit that most of my affinity for heavy bullets in the .25-06 is in my head and not real world performance, the same can be said for prefering the lighter bullets and their perceived better ballistics. With a .25-06 zeroed at 200 yards, you are looking at about a 2 inch difference of POI at 500 yards betwen a 100 and 110 grain bullet.....negligible really.

[Dick284]

I've only ran 100's in my 25'06 not because of choice but because it became a accidental big game rifle. I had it built with a custom twist barrel, and it wont stabalize the larger bullets. (bulit as a LR varmint rifle)
Seeing what 100gr. nosler Partitions and TSX's do to game is a bit increadable. It kills way better than you'd ever think.
I've also reloaded 115gr. Nosler Partitions for a buddy, they kill stuff as good as my 100's so go figure.
I guess if they all shoot equally as well, you just gotta chose, cause they will work.

[Donny Bear]

Originally Posted by stubblejumper

I have taken about twenty deer sized animals with the 257wby,as well as an elk.My hunting partner has taken ten or so deer sized animals plus a moose with his 25-06.In all cases 100 grain bullets were used,but in the case of the elk and moose,they were controlled expansion bullets.I would use the 110gr accubond,or the 100gr tsx myself.

X2 on this 100 tsx will do the job easy as would the Accubonds I currently use the accubonds and though I have a variety of larger rifles I love the 25
don't know how many deer it has taken but it has harvested my last 5 moose and 2 elk, antelope and sheep. It has also harvested every big game animal taken by my wife and son.

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Originally Posted by lurch

2 inches is quite a bit....and even more to others.

You might get me to bite on one of these ballistic threads Sheep, but not his time.

Way bigger fish to fry right now

Just pointing out a fact...not offering up any bait but I agree that in some cases two inches in a big deal but not in shooting at 500 yards.

[ABwhitetail]

Lurch,

Sheep is talking 2" @ 500yrds.....I would say theat is pretty "negligible" in hunting situation performance.......

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Originally Posted by lurch

Gotcha Sheep.

That was humor - re-read that & note the emoticon.

I'll spare you the similar diatribe form the other post.

Hey, it's cold outside.....trust me, I got the two-inch reference! Humour rarely evades me!

[Kev]

I shoot 100 gr...usually ballistic tips. Just my own mental meanderings...but 120 gr in 25-06 was just too much like 130gr in 270, I wanted something different.

Alright...not completely scientific.

[220]

I shoot 2 25-06 rifles....1 in a rem 700 and 1 is a sako. Both love a max load of I4350 and 100 tsx for hunting and I have shot several moose and deer with this load. I also shoot 100 gr hornady soft points for cheeper plinking and practice. They both shoot to the same poi and are sub moa in both guns. The 100 tsx has never let me down and use it for all hunting. You won't be soory with that choice.